Street vendors lacking requisite pre-survey challans cannot be included in authorized lists once surveys are completed.

The Petitioner, a street vendor operating near Delhi Cantonment Metro Station, sought inclusion in the list of eligible street vendors under the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and the Delhi Street Vendors Scheme, 2019

He claimed to possess three challans issued by the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) prior to the survey commencement date of October 27, 2023, which he alleged met the criteria for inclusion established in the Town Vending Committee (TVC) minutes dated January 15, 2026

Despite a representation sent on May 8, 2026, the Petitioner remained excluded from the survey and subsequent list

1. Whether the Petitioner is entitled to be included in the list of authorized street vendors based on the possession of three challans issued prior to October 27, 2023

2. Whether the court can direct the reopening of a concluded survey for a belated claim

Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 and the Delhi Street Vendors Scheme, 2019.

Resolution No. 3 dated January 27, 2026, of the DCB, which mandated that only vendors producing at least three challans issued prior to October 27, 2023, would be considered for the list, subject to holding capacity

The precedent set in Gyan Chand v. Delhi Cantonment Board & Ors. (W.P.(C) 17785/2025) and Dinesh v. Delhi Cantonment Board & Ors. (W.P.(C) 7270/2026), which affirmed that the TVC’s scrutiny of challans is a finalized policy process and that vendors failing to meet or timely present criteria cannot halt the process

The Court observed that the TVC had already conducted a detailed, court-monitored exercise to scrutinize challans and finalize the authorized vendor list

While the Petitioner claimed to meet the "three-challan" criteria established in the January 15, 2026 minutes, he approached the Court only after the survey had been completed and the final list drawn up

Relying on the reasoning in Dinesh v. Delhi Cantonment Board, the Court held that while the policy requires three challans for eligibility, the administrative process must have finality

However, since the Petitioner possesses the requisite documents but was late in the process, the Court balanced his right to be considered against the finality of the current survey by directing that his case be considered in future surveys or if excess capacity arises

It directed that the Town Vending Committee consider the Petitioner's representation dated May 8, 2026, in accordance with the January 15, 2026 minutes. If the TVC finalizes the vending plan and finds excess holding capacity, the Petitioner may be considered as part of the next survey. The writ petition was disposed of with these directions